Feb
2018

Why Bookbub Rocks

categories: Adorkable, Bookbub, giveaway, Ninja Girl, promotion, self-publishing, YA

Bookbub seriously rocks!

Wait, wait, what’s that you say?  You don’t know what Bookbub is?  *Gasp*  How can that be?

Just kidding lol, I didn’t know either until I decided to publish my first book ADORKABLE :).  In 2016, I searched the best ways to promote a book, and Bookbub was always right there, being mentioned by authors.  They made it sound SO awesome, and of course, I had to know more.  So, what is Bookbub?  Basically, it’s a site that helps readers find new reads at a limited-time great price.  It also helps authors promote their work and expand their readership.  Each day “featured deals” are emailed out to the readers with books that are 1) in genres they love to read and 2) at deeply discounted prices.

Sounds amazing, right?

The catch for authors: It can be pretty pricey.  You pay up front if your book is selected, a pre-determined price listed right on their website based on your discounted price and genre.  The process was said to be super selective.  There are no guarantees.

Flash forward to 2018, when I’d released a couple of books and was hoping to better promote them.

I chose to submit ADORKABLE because it had more ratings/reviews on Amazon and Goodreads than NINJA GIRL.  The Bookbub editorial team supposedly looks at this (see post).  I wasn’t overly confident, was scared to submit, knew that my book may not be selected–knew too that authors had started to say that Bookbub was no longer as effective, that readers were overwhelmed with discounted books and that Bookbub experiences varied widely.  With nothing to lose, I submitted ADORKABLE anyway.

And miracle of miracles, it was selected for a featured deal!!!  Yay, yay, yayyyyy!

My genre was teen and young adult.  The discounted price was $0.99 for a limited time.  The featured deal ran on a Sunday, and ADORKABLE was at the top of the email I received from Bookbub (ahhhhh!).  Then I watched to see if the promotion would have any effect.

And boy did it ever!

Several new readers discovered the book, more than I could’ve ever hoped for.  Several new readers discovered NINJA GIRL, too.  More pages were read on Kindle Unlimited.  ADORKABLE quickly skyrocketed to #1 in a couple of its categories–which yes, thankfully, it has been there before.

But the most amazing thing, the most unbelievable, I-hoped-but-never-thought-it-would-happen surprise was this:

ADORKABLE broke the Amazon Top 100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It reached #98.

In. The. Entire. Amazon. Store.

I know…I know!!!!  Incredible, right?  I had to take pictures because otherwise when I look back on this, I may not believe it LOL.

Sigh.  ADORKABLE‘s success has always been something I am so incredibly thankful for.  I love that little book.  And Bookbub rocks because it helped put Sally and Becks into the hands and hearts of new readers <3.

To celebrate, this Thursday I will be having a Facebook Giveaway!!!!!  This is a way for me to connect and thank my readers, and last time, it was so fun, you guys!  I hope you’ll join me this Thursday, February 22, 2018 at 7:30am PT (10:30am ET).  I’ll be asking bookish questions about my books, and the prizes are $5 Amazon gift cards, 1 signed copy of ADORKABLE and 1 signed copy of NINJA GIRL!!!  I love giving, and I especially love giving to you readers!  Hope to see you there :).

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Feb
2018

Happy V-Day Giveaway!

categories: Adorkable, Amazon, doing what you love, fun, giveaway, Happy V-Day Giveaway, Ninja Girl, The Unbelievable Inconceivable Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder

It’s the day of romance, candy hearts, flowers, book boyfriends and L-O-V-E <3.

Okay, so I added in the book boyfriends lol.  But they rock, and we all love them, so why not, right?  February 14th kind of snuck up on me this year, but I do have a sweet giveaway for all of you!

The Happy V-Day Giveaway will run from today until March 7, 2018.  The awesome part: There will be 2 winners!!!  One winner will get a $10 Amazon gift card, and one winner will get a signed copy of my YA romance NINJA GIRL!  You can enter using the rafflecopter below (and there are a lot of ways to enter–including adding my upcoming release, THE UNBELIEVABLE, INCONCEIVABLE, UNFORESEEABLE TRUTH ABOUT ETHAN WILDER, on Goodreads :)).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, and Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Feb
2018

The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder cover reveal

categories: cover love, Romance, The Unbelievable Inconceivable Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder, YA, YA mystery

Hi everyone, it’s time for the cover reveal of The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder!  Fair warning: Prepare yourself for so much swoon <3.  Book Baby #3’s cover was designed by the amazing Stephanie Mooney, who has created all of my covers to date.  She seriously outdid herself this time, you guys.

I cannot wait to show you this awesome cover.

It makes my eyes smile.

I hope it does the same for you…

…and without further ado…

…here is the cover…

…for The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder!!!

Did you pass out from all the gorgeousness???  Lol, but seriously, I love it!

It captures just the right balance of mystery, romance and swoon.  And can I just say, the model’s expression/stance/overall attitude?  It’s so very Ethan :).  The colors, the font, the feel, I’m absolutely thrilled at how everything turned out!

I’m also excited because 27 people have added The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder on Goodreads!  Yesssssss!!!!  I’m sending all of you the best karma and virtual cookies lol :).  Seriously, thank you so much for adding my YA romance murder mystery to your shelves.  I hope you love it and the cover!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

P.S. Be on the lookout for a giveaway next week! 🙂


Feb
2018

Coming Soon!

categories: doing what you love, Goodreads, Romance, The Unbelievable Inconceivable Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder, writing, YA, YA mystery

This is going to be an exciting post because…I have a new book coming soon!  Yay, yay, yayyyyyy!!!!!!!

Yes, book baby #3 is on its way, and I’ve even added it to Goodreads.  Here are the main details in case you’re interested:

Title: The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder

Genre: YA romance murder mystery with a Southern twist :).

Release date: April 5, 2018

If you click on the link in the title, you can see the summary as well.  And guess what else???  The cover will be revealed on Thursday!  Yes, this Thursday, as in just 3 days away.  And just so you know, I love the summary and the cover and, of course, the book <3.  I really hope you will, too!

If you’d like to add The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder to your Goodreads TBR, you can do so here :).  When that first person added the book, it was such an awesome feeling.  More info will be coming soon–and again, there will be a cover reveal on Thursday!  I’m so excited, and I hope you’re all having an awesome week!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

P.S. BookBub is awesome!!! More on that later as well :).


Jan
2018

Hello Again

categories: Adorkable, doing what you love, Ninja Girl, promotion, YA

Hello again, readers!  It’s been a while since I last posted, but I wanted to let you what’s been going on.  Basically, I ran into some back luck in the new year.  My site (yes, my little author site that only like 5 people read) was hacked.

Yes, hacked.

Ugggghhh :/.

I can’t tell you how disheartening/upsetting/alarming that was–but thankfully, I found help in the form of a WordPress tech wizard named Wesley.  He and his company came in and worked their magic.  They got rid of all the bad stuff.  I’m so thankful for his help, expertise and professionalism.  It eased my mind to know that he was on the case.  And seriously, he helped me get my site back up and running, so yayyyyy, hip-hip-hooray for Wesley the tech wizard!!! 🙂

In bookish news, this week I’m trying something new!  BookBub is a site that helps readers find new books and that allows authors to promote their work.   Like I said in my Goals post, I want to do better at promoting, so this seemed like a great opportunity.  Nerves got to me; the BookBub process was said to be very selective.  I’d read several blog posts about this and was worried that my book wouldn’t be selected.  However, I decided to go for it anyway because what did I have to lose?

And guess what?  They selected ADORKABLE for a Featured Deal!!!  Huzzah!

I was elated.  Part of me had trouble believing it, and I gotta say I’m so excited about this promotion!

ADORKABLE will be available for just $0.99 from January 29 until February 2, 2018.  That’s Monday through Friday, you guys!  If you’d help me spread the word, I’d be ever so grateful <3.

I’m also working on a giveaway!  Not sure yet if it will be a Goodreads, Rafflecopter or Facebook giveaway, but I’m looking forward to it.  Hint, hint: There will be signed copies of NINJA GIRL and ADORKABLE involved :).

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

P.S. I sent my next book to the formatter today, eep!  And I’ve been working with my designer on a cover that makes me go starry-eyed sigh *__*.  I hope you all have a great week!

 


Jan
2018

Goals for 2018

categories: Adorkable, doing what you love, Happy Holidays, Kamuzasok Kavarasok, Ninja Girl, Romance, self-publishing, writing, YA

First post of the new year, whoop!

It’s a time for new beginnings, new hopes and a fresh start.  It’s also the time for resolutions, but to be honest, I’ve never been a big fan of those.  They are so easy to break.  And it’s so easy to feel like a failure when that happens.  Ugh.

So instead, I set goals.

Some are writing-oriented like: Publish a book.  Finish writing my current WIP.  Try new things with marketing/promotion.  Keep being thankful and doing giveaways because readers rock!  Write more, write better, write something I would love to read.

Others are more personal like: Be a better person.  Make someone’s life easier.  Restore and strengthen my faith.  Exercise more, worry less, keep heart and stay positive.

I ended 2017 surrounded by the people and the books that I love <3.  I’m hard at work on my next books, and I hope that readers will want to read them.  A goal that I’ve always had (and continue to have in 2018) is to write the best book possible for my readers and myself.

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So, how is 2018 treating you so far?  Any resolutions or goals for the new year?  Any new books? 😉

I hope you’re all doing well and that you’re having a wonderful week!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

P.S. Another goal for 2018: Figure out why the pics in my posts end up sideways on computer but right on mobile devices lol!


Dec
2017

We have a winner!

categories: Adorkable, Amazon, doing what you love, giveaway, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Ninja Girl, Ninja Girl Christmas Giveaway, Romance, self-publishing, YA

I hope you all had a very merry Christmas!

My day was spent with the people I love, and it was wonderful to finally give them their presents.  Although I’m not the biggest fan of shopping (understatement of the century–and bookstores don’t count.  I could stay in the bookstore forever), I absolutely LOVE giving.

It rocks.  It makes them feel good, makes you feel good.  Speaking of which…

We have a winner!  The winner of the NINJA GIRL Christmas Giveaway is:

Janet!!!

Congratulations, Janet!  Your $25 Amazon gift card is on its way, and I hope you love it!  Thank you so much to everyone who entered the giveaway and who has supported both NINJA GIRL and ADORKABLE.  I appreciate your support so very much.  I’ll have to do another giveaway soon because it feels so awesome to give :).

May the odds be ever in your favor, may the Force be with you, and may your holiday be filled with awesome!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Dec
2017

Tis The Season

categories: Adorkable, fun, Happy Holidays, Harry Potter, Merry Christmas, YA

It’s two days before Christmas.  I’m finally done shopping–thank goodness!–and now I can slow down and just rest for a bit :).

One of my good friends (one of my only friends lol.  Thanks, Nina!) got me the little mystery box pictured below.

I’ve gotta admit: I was way too excited about what was in there.  Harry Potter lovers, you feel me on this, right?  It could be anything.  A thestral, dragon, pixie, owl, a Neville or *gasp* a Snape <3.  The mystery is the best part, so if you know any HP fans, I would definitely recommend!

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So, what you ask was in the box???

 

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A mini Harry Potter!!!!!  Awww, isn’t he just the cutest?  He is totally adorkable with his sorting hat and glasses <3.

Mini Mr. Potter definitely brightened my day, and I just wanted to say: Happy Holidays to all of you!  And if you’re someone who struggles through this time of year, I hope you know that you are not alone.  It can be hard, and I’m right there with you.  But I hope you find a bit of magic this holiday season, something to make it wonderful.  Merry Christmas, my lovely readers, I wish you only the best books and all of the best times with those you love!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Dec
2017

It’s Giveaway Time :)

categories: Amazon, giveaway, Ninja Girl, Ninja Girl Christmas Giveaway, Romance, self-publishing, YA

Okay, in case you missed it: NINJA GIRL came out in paperback yesterday!  Yay, yay, yayyyyy :).  I’ve gotten several nice comments, and I appreciate them so much; the power of a kind word to brighten someone’s day is very real.  Also, some people have already bought the book–which is crazy awesome.  I’m so so thankful for every reader and for anyone who gives Ash and Snow a chance <3.

Second, like I said at the end of the previous post…it’s giveaway time!!!

The NINJA GIRL Christmas Giveaway will run from December 15 until December 25, and a random winner will be chosen to win a $25 Amazon gift card! 🙂  You can enter using the rafflecopter below.  With Christmas right around the corner, I definitely wanted to do a giveaway to say THANK YOU to my readers, so please enter as many times as you can!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I’ll be doing another post next week, but until then…happy holidays, everyone!  I hope life is treating you well.  Thank you so much again for making yesterday a great day, and best of luck in the giveaway!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Dec
2017

Happy Paperback Release Day!!!

categories: Adorkable, Amazon, doing what you love, Ninja Girl, Release Day, Romance, self-publishing, YA

I can’t believe it’s here!  Today is the day, my adorkable ninja readers, the day that Snow and Ash make their big debut in print <333.  And I’ve gotta say:

Happy Paperback Release Day, NINJA GIRL!!!!!!!

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It’s live, you guys!  Snow and Ash’s story is now available in another format, and I’m so excited.  I hope readers embrace their story, and the mix of action and romance.  I hope they love the strength, the chemistry, the funny, and of course, the swoon in NINJA GIRL.

Oh my Ash, do I hope they swoon :).

I can honestly say that this–publishing my second paperback–is just as exciting (and nerve-wracking lol) as the first time.  I care about my characters, and the experience of seeing a physical copy of their story, the beautiful cover, the real-life pages, knowing all the feelings and time that went into writing this little YA romance?  Ahhh, it is a truly amazing feeling <3.

Also, print books are just awesome!  I only give them to the people I really like lol.  I don’t loan mine out because I’m afraid of bent pages and torn covers (shivers).  As much as I love my iPad–and I definitely do!–books you can hold in your hand are irreplaceable.  Some people only read print books.  So, I’m hoping NINJA GIRL will find even more awesome readers and that Snow and Ash will find a place in their hearts and on their shelves.

And it’s just in time for Christmas!!!

I love getting books for Christmas, so hopefully NINJA GIRL (and ADORKABLE) will find its way under some bookish person’s Christmas tree lol :).  As always, thank you so much for your support, and I hope you’re having a wonderful week!

Happy reading and Happy Paperback Release Day,

Cookie O’Gorman

P.S. I’ll be doing a giveaway tomorrow to celebrate, yayyyy! 🙂